Decentralized versus Clustered Microgrids: An Energy Systems Study for Reliable Off-Grid Electrification of Small Islands
Philippine off-grid islands are mostly electrified by diesel generators, resulting in costly electricity that is interrupted by fuel supply disruptions. The archipelagic nature of the country also impedes off-grid electrification due to the high capital cost of grid extension. Transitioning from die...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-08-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/17/4454 |
| _version_ | 1797555252547813376 |
|---|---|
| author | Olivia Francesca B. Agua Robert Joseph A. Basilio Mc Erschad D. Pabillan Michael T. Castro Philipp Blechinger Joey D. Ocon |
| author_facet | Olivia Francesca B. Agua Robert Joseph A. Basilio Mc Erschad D. Pabillan Michael T. Castro Philipp Blechinger Joey D. Ocon |
| author_sort | Olivia Francesca B. Agua |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Philippine off-grid islands are mostly electrified by diesel generators, resulting in costly electricity that is interrupted by fuel supply disruptions. The archipelagic nature of the country also impedes off-grid electrification due to the high capital cost of grid extension. Transitioning from diesel-only systems to hybrid renewable energy systems and interconnecting the island microgrids can solve these problems while promoting cleaner energy production. In this work, a comparative study on decentralized and clustered hybrid renewable energy system microgrids in the Polillo group of islands in the Philippines, using HOMER Pro, was performed. Microgrids comprising solar photovoltaics, lithium-ion battery energy storage, and diesel generators were designed on each island. Clustered systems encompassing multiple islands in the island group were simulated by also considering the least-cost interconnection paths. The techno-economics of each decentralized or clustered system and the four-island system were evaluated based on the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Reliability was assessed using the change in LCOE upon the failure of a component and during weather disturbances. Transitioning from diesel-only systems to hybrid systems reduces generation costs by an average of 42.01% and increases the renewable energy share to 80%. Interconnecting the hybrid systems results in an average increase of 2.34% in generation costs due to the cost of submarine cables but improves system reliability and reduces the optimum solar photovoltaic and lithium-ion storage installations by 6.66% and 8.71%, respectively. This research serves as a framework for the interconnection pre-feasibility analysis of other small off-grid islands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:44:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-558f1015834445a4a37e34f1e21a85b9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:44:48Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-558f1015834445a4a37e34f1e21a85b92023-11-20T11:42:21ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-08-011317445410.3390/en13174454Decentralized versus Clustered Microgrids: An Energy Systems Study for Reliable Off-Grid Electrification of Small IslandsOlivia Francesca B. Agua0Robert Joseph A. Basilio1Mc Erschad D. Pabillan2Michael T. Castro3Philipp Blechinger4Joey D. Ocon5Laboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Diliman 1101, PhilippinesLaboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Diliman 1101, PhilippinesLaboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Diliman 1101, PhilippinesLaboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Diliman 1101, PhilippinesOff-Grid Systems Group, Reiner Lemoine Institut, Rudower Chaussee 12, 12489 Berlin, GermanyLaboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Diliman 1101, PhilippinesPhilippine off-grid islands are mostly electrified by diesel generators, resulting in costly electricity that is interrupted by fuel supply disruptions. The archipelagic nature of the country also impedes off-grid electrification due to the high capital cost of grid extension. Transitioning from diesel-only systems to hybrid renewable energy systems and interconnecting the island microgrids can solve these problems while promoting cleaner energy production. In this work, a comparative study on decentralized and clustered hybrid renewable energy system microgrids in the Polillo group of islands in the Philippines, using HOMER Pro, was performed. Microgrids comprising solar photovoltaics, lithium-ion battery energy storage, and diesel generators were designed on each island. Clustered systems encompassing multiple islands in the island group were simulated by also considering the least-cost interconnection paths. The techno-economics of each decentralized or clustered system and the four-island system were evaluated based on the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Reliability was assessed using the change in LCOE upon the failure of a component and during weather disturbances. Transitioning from diesel-only systems to hybrid systems reduces generation costs by an average of 42.01% and increases the renewable energy share to 80%. Interconnecting the hybrid systems results in an average increase of 2.34% in generation costs due to the cost of submarine cables but improves system reliability and reduces the optimum solar photovoltaic and lithium-ion storage installations by 6.66% and 8.71%, respectively. This research serves as a framework for the interconnection pre-feasibility analysis of other small off-grid islands.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/17/4454dieselsolar photovoltaicslithium-iondecentralized microgridsclustered microgridsrenewable energy |
| spellingShingle | Olivia Francesca B. Agua Robert Joseph A. Basilio Mc Erschad D. Pabillan Michael T. Castro Philipp Blechinger Joey D. Ocon Decentralized versus Clustered Microgrids: An Energy Systems Study for Reliable Off-Grid Electrification of Small Islands Energies diesel solar photovoltaics lithium-ion decentralized microgrids clustered microgrids renewable energy |
| title | Decentralized versus Clustered Microgrids: An Energy Systems Study for Reliable Off-Grid Electrification of Small Islands |
| title_full | Decentralized versus Clustered Microgrids: An Energy Systems Study for Reliable Off-Grid Electrification of Small Islands |
| title_fullStr | Decentralized versus Clustered Microgrids: An Energy Systems Study for Reliable Off-Grid Electrification of Small Islands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decentralized versus Clustered Microgrids: An Energy Systems Study for Reliable Off-Grid Electrification of Small Islands |
| title_short | Decentralized versus Clustered Microgrids: An Energy Systems Study for Reliable Off-Grid Electrification of Small Islands |
| title_sort | decentralized versus clustered microgrids an energy systems study for reliable off grid electrification of small islands |
| topic | diesel solar photovoltaics lithium-ion decentralized microgrids clustered microgrids renewable energy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/17/4454 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT oliviafrancescabagua decentralizedversusclusteredmicrogridsanenergysystemsstudyforreliableoffgridelectrificationofsmallislands AT robertjosephabasilio decentralizedversusclusteredmicrogridsanenergysystemsstudyforreliableoffgridelectrificationofsmallislands AT mcerschaddpabillan decentralizedversusclusteredmicrogridsanenergysystemsstudyforreliableoffgridelectrificationofsmallislands AT michaeltcastro decentralizedversusclusteredmicrogridsanenergysystemsstudyforreliableoffgridelectrificationofsmallislands AT philippblechinger decentralizedversusclusteredmicrogridsanenergysystemsstudyforreliableoffgridelectrificationofsmallislands AT joeydocon decentralizedversusclusteredmicrogridsanenergysystemsstudyforreliableoffgridelectrificationofsmallislands |